Abstract:

HIV
patients have increased life expectancy due to the access to antiretroviral drugs
treatment. However the increasing age comes with increased risk to non communicable
diseases which include diabetes mellitus. However the prevalence of diabetes mellitus
amongst HIV patients has not been extensively studied in Zimbabwe. Thus we sought
to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus amongst HIV patients on antiretroviral
therapy treatment attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Opportunistic Infections
Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe.

A
cross-sectional study was conducted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Opportunistic
Infections Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe. All HIV patients (18 years and older) on antiretroviral
therapy attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Opportunistic Infections Clinic
during the study period were given information on the study. Only those who consented
to participate in the study were recruited. Demographic data was obtained from patients
by administration of questionnaires. Blood samples were collected for glycosylated
haemoglobin analysis on a Mispa-i2 Chemistry Analyser.

A
total of 60 HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy were recruited into the study,
33 (55%) were females and 27 (45%) were males. The mean age was 43.48 ± 10.3 years.
Majority of the patients (33.3%) were on tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus
was 8.3%.

Diabetes
mellitus prevalence amongst the HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy treatment
was 8.3%. There is need for need to investigate the factors associated with diabetes
mellitus in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy treatment and confirm the prevalence
in a study with a large sample size.

[11]. The
International Expert Committee. International Expert Committee Report on the
Role of the A1C Assay in the Diagnosis of Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009 Jul 1; 32
(7):1327–34.

[12]. World
Health Organization. Use of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in diagnosis of
diabetes mellitus: abbreviated report of a WHO consultation. 2011 [cited 2016
Oct 28]; Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/70523